John a



(No Model.)

J. A. DEAN.

l ROPE GRIP. No. 466,736. Patented Jan. 5, 1692.-

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UNITED STATES JOHN A. DEAN, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF PATENT OFFICE.

TO ISAAC S. VHITING, OF SAME PLACE.

ROPE-GRIP.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.`466,'736, dated January 5, 1892. Application filed March 17, 1888. Serial No. 267.540. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern: Y

3e it known that I, JOHN A. DEAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of lVorcester, in the county of Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mechanism for Gripping Ropes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a pulley-block, partly in section, with my rope-gripping mechanism attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a top view of the rope-gripping mechanism attached toaiianged plate or supporting frame-work; and Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view on line X X, Fi". 2.

zSimilar letters refer to similar parts in the several views.

My invention has for its object to provide a rope-gripping device by which ropes used in pulley-blocks in the various kinds of hoists, the guy-ropes of derricks, the rigging of vessels, and ropes used in elevators and in other analogous uses maybe seized and securelyheld in any desired position; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, as hereinafter described, and set forth in the claims.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, A denotes a block attached in any known and convenient man ner to the pulley-block B. The block A serves as the frame to which the operative parts of my rope-gripping mechanism are attached, and maybe in any form by which it is readily and securely attached to the pulley-block B.

In the drawings the block A is attached to the pulley-block by means of the bolts a a.

To the frame A, I pivot the two levers C C, pivoted at b b, and to the levers C C, I pivot the connecting-bar D, pivoted to the levers C C at c c. The ends of the levers are curved nearly concentrically with the pivots Z7 b, as shown at cl, Fig. 3, and also grooved to fit the convex side of the rope, as indicated at c, Fig.

5 3. The connecting-bar D is a double bar attached to the levers C C on each side and connected atE E', Figs. 2 and 3. A spring F, Fig. 3, is attached to the frame-work A, being in the form shown in the drawings, a wire coiled around a pin f and having its tension applied to one of the levers C in such a manner as to carry it in the direction of the arrow l, Fig. 3. As the pivotal points c c are placed at the left of the vertical line R R, passing through the pivotal points b h, any motion toward the left of the lever C C or .in the direction of the ari-owl, Fig. 3, will draw the connecting-bar D down and bring the cross-bar E nearer the curved ends of the 'levers C C. As the crossbar E is placed between the levers C C, a strain upon the rope in the direction of the arrow 2, Fig. 3, will draw the bar E down nearer to the ends of the levers C C and tend to produce a curvature or bend in the rope between the levers C, thereby causing the rope to be firmly held in the space between the levers C C and the cross-bar E. In the form shown in Fig. l an eye g is made in the connecting-bar, to which a line is attached for the purpose of drawing the connectingbar D and connected levers C C against the tension of the spring F and also against the strain of the rope 7L, thereby raising the crossbar E and releasing the rope. In Figs. 2 and 3 the rope-gripping mechanism is held in a frame having flanges G G, through which bolts j j are passed, by which the frame is attached to the mast or decks of vessels or the sides of buildings, and a step H projects from the bar D, against which the foot may be placed for the purpose of releasing the rope in the same manner, as by the line 7L.

It will be evident that my invention is not confined to the method of releasing the rope; neither do I confine myself to the two levers C C, as shown in the accompanying drawings, as three or even more levers might be used, if desired, with a crossebar extending from one side of the connecting-bar D to the other between each contiguous pair of levers, the essential feature of my invention consisting in such an arrangement of the operating parts as shall provide two lower bearings J J for the rope and an upper bearing J so pivoted to the lower rope-support that a movement of the lower rope-support in the direction of the strain upon the rope held will cause the upper bearing J to hug the rope, as shown and herein described, tending to curve or bend the rope between the two lower rope-bearings.

I am aware that rope-gripping devices have IOO been in use in which the rope has been pressed between twoopposing surfaces, and also that rope-gripping devices have been employed in which the rope has been bent or curved. Such I do not claim, broadly; but

What I do claim, and desire to secu-re by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a rope-gripping mechanism, the combination of a rigid supporting-frame, a pair of parallel pivoted levers pivoted to said frame, a connecting-bar coupling the free ends of said pivoted levers, and a cross-bar attached to said connecting-bar and extending tra-nsversely across and between the free ends of said pivoted levers, substantially as described'.

2. In a rope-gripping mechanism, the combination of a rigid supporting-frame, a pair of parallel levers pivoted to said frame, and a cross-bar extending transversely across and between the free ends of said pivoted levers, said cross-bar being p-i'voted to each of said parallel levers', substantially as described.

31. In a rope-gripping mechanism, the com'-V bi-n'ation of a rigid frame, a pair of parallel levers pivoted to said frame, a connecting-bar pivoted tol each of the free ends of said paralilel levers, a cross-bar extending across and between the free ends of said parallel levers, and

a spring attached to the rigid frame, with its tension applied to one of said levers to carry it in the direction of the strain upon the rope held in the gripping mechanism, substantially as described.

4L. In a rope-gripping mechanism, the combination of a rigid frame, a pair of parallel levers pivoted to said frame, a connecting-bar uniting the free ends of said levers, a crossbar extending transversely across and between the free ends of said levers, and a step projecting laterally from one side of said connecting-bar, substantially as described.

5. In a rope-gripping mechanism, the combination of a rigid frame, a pair of parallel levers pivoted to said frame, a connecting-bar uniting the free ends of said levers, and a cross-bar extending transversely across and betweeny the free end'sot' said levers, said' tree ends ot' the levers bein-g curved coneentri'cally with the pivot ot`= said levers and provided with; a groove to receive the rope, substantially as described.

JOI-IN A. DEAN.

RUFUs B. FowLER, H. M. FowLnR. 

